Corner Bakery Cafe Continues to Accelerate Growth with Entry into New York State

Date

Mar 11, 2013

DALLAS--The swiftly growing fast-casual concept, Corner Bakery
Cafe, extends its reach into the North East with two newly
announced franchise
agreements that will bring 15 new bakery cafe locations to New York
state in the next six years. Franchisee and operating partner Fran
DeSimone has aggressive plans to simultaneously develop the greater
markets of Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, complementing Corner
Bakery Cafe's current accelerated pace of growth in key regions
throughout the country.

"Our original agreement was for nine locations in Rochester and
Buffalo, but the overwhelming reception from the market and
enthusiasm for the brand led to an easy decision to develop an
additional six locations," said Fran DeSimone, Corner Bakery Cafe's
New York state franchisee and operating partner. "Corner Bakery
Cafe offers high-quality, fresh food, a comfortable atmosphere, a
fantastic catering program and the best freshly baked sweets in the
area. It is simply the most attractive investment opportunity in
the bakery cafe category, offering superior unit-level economics
and a unique dining experience unlike any I've seen in my 37 years
in the industry."

"Fran's extensive experience in the restaurant
business - specifically in the bakery cafe
category - along with his plans for fast-paced expansion align well
with our own ambitious development goals," said John LaBarge, vice
president of franchise
business at Corner Bakery Cafe. "We are on track to more than
double the Corner Bakery Cafe system in the next three to four
years, and our ability to attract this caliber of franchise partner with this
level of industry experience enables us to achieve our goal."

The first New York location opened in Pittsford to an enthusiastic
crowd on August 15, 2011. Corner Bakery Cafe's exceptional dining
experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional sit-down
restaurants
has successfully attracted a growing fan base of repeat guests in
just a few short weeks. The second and third locations will open in
Buffalo in December and early spring, respectively. DeSimone is on
track to have three Corner Bakery Cafe locations open and serving
guests in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse by the end of 2012. These
two agreements for a total of 15 units are just two of many Corner
Bakery Cafe franchise
deals scheduled for completion by the end of the year, adding to
the brand's current franchise commitments totaling
over 200 new locations.

Known for its innovative menu featuring a wide variety of egg
scramblers and oatmeals for breakfast, flavorful sandwiches and
signature panini, homemade soups, signature salads, fresh baked
goods and an extensive catering menu, Corner Bakery Cafe has been
delighting guests nationwide with fresh, made-to-order meals in a
welcoming and cozy atmosphere for 20 years. Guests can also stay
connected with free Wi-Fi while enjoying a bottomless cup of
hand-roasted coffee.

From a small bread bakery on a corner in downtown Chicago to a
national cornerstone of fast casual dining, Corner Bakery Cafe
opened its first location in 1991 and now operates 121 locations
across the country.

About Corner Bakery Cafe
Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast casual restaurant
serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests in Atlanta, Chicago,
Clifton, N.J., Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, El Paso, Texas, Houston,
Jackson, Miss., Los Angeles/Orange County, Philadelphia, Phoenix,
Rochester, N.Y., Salt Lake City, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
Established in 1991, Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants
are owned and operated by CBC restaurant
Corp. with 121 company-owned and franchised locations around the
country. Roark Capital Group's June 2011 acquisition of Corner
Bakery Cafe has provided further resources and support for the
greatly accelerated pace of growth of both company-owned and
franchise development.
Founded on a philosophy of creating a place for people to relax and
gather with family and friends, Corner Bakery Cafe offers a casual
atmosphere featuring innovative, seasonal menu options ranging from
hot breakfasts and signature panini to handcrafted salads,
sandwiches and mouthwatering sweets. Corner Bakery Cafe offers
dine-in, to-go and catering service for any occasion. Corner Bakery
Cafe delivers a premier bakery cafe experience in the heart of
neighborhoods everywhere and gives back to the communities it
serves as a Share our Strength "No Kid Hungry" campaign partner,
striving to end childhood hunger in America. For more information,
visit www.cornerbakerycafe.com, like the Corner Bakery Cafe
Facebook page, or follow Corner Bakery Cafe on Twitter
@CornerBakery.

About Franchisee Fran DeSimone
Corner Bakery Cafe's New York state franchisee and operating
partner Fran DeSimone has been in the restaurant
industry for 37 years, with eight years of experience most recently
in the bakery cafe category. DeSimone has strong ties to the New
York state area, where he has lived and worked for the past 23
years. Through his development of 15 Corner Bakery Cafe locations
he looks forward to strengthening his connections to the
neighborhoods and communities in the area.